Petition for Release of Christian Convicted of Blasphemy Reaches Half a Million

A Pakistani Christian woman convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death has successfully appealed a court's ruling, just as a petition demanding her release has reached over 500,000 signatures.

Asia Noreen Bibi, whose case has received global interest, including that of Pope Benedict XVI, was sentenced to death by hanging in 2011 after spending more than a year in a Pakistani prison.

Asia Bibi, a wife and mother, is accused of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad by Muslim witnesses, which she has denied.

Calls for Asia Bibi's release have increased as she awaits the Lahore High Court's ruling on her appeal in jail. A petition for Asia Bibi's release, which hopes to reach one million signatures, has already reached 560,848.

As the Christian Post previously reported, Christians from around the globe are uniting in a bid to prevent Asia Bibi's death. The president of Human Rights Focus Pakistan, Naveed Walter, is also calling for Asia Bibi to be pardoned and released.

"We appeal to all Christians, Non-Government Organizations, human rights activists and political workers to take part in this peaceful protest … so that this day will become 'the voice' against the persecution of Christians in Pakistan," Walter said.

Although Asia Bibi may be released, critics argue that her life will remain in jeopardy due to an increase in religious tensions in the predominantly Muslim nation, according to CatholicCulture.org.